Complex would generate energy to power some of school's athletic facilities

Bowdoin College is hoping to build the largest solar power complex in Maine.

The school announced in a release that it's proposing to build a solar power complex to generate energy that would power electricity at some of the school's athletic facilities.

Officials say the 1,300-kilowatt system would be almost eight times larger than any other solar installation in Maine. Part of it would be placed on land the college bought at the former Brunswick Naval Air Station, and panels would be put on the roofs of Farley Field House and Watson Arena.

The multi-million dollar project would be financed by California-based SolarCity Corp.

It could generate about 1.6 million-kilowatt hours of electricity, which is about 8 percent of the school's annual usage.